SWOT analysis of selected carbon dioxide removal technologies

Abstract

In order to mitigate climate change, mankind must discover the appropriate method to restrain the increase in the Earth's mean temperature. In order to meet the goal set by the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to below 2oC, it is necessary to not only focus on discovering the appropriate technologies but also on managing the available time effectively. This thesis compares a several selected Carbon Dioxide removal technologies through analysis of literature reviews and secondary literature reviews, and subsequently compares the technologies using a SWOT analysis. The objective of this thesis is to identify the currently operational Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies that are most likely to have a significant impact on reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, in order to fulfill the target of limiting global warming to below 2oC. The selected CDR technologies are: Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS), Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Biochar, Enhanced Rock Weathering, Ocean Alkalinization, Ocean Fertilisation, Afforestation and Reforestation, Soil Carbon Sequestration technologies. Through the SWOT analysis this thesis used different kinds of datas such as: TRL (Technology Readiness Level), storage type, durable storage, cost at scale, mitigation potential, MRV, risks, energy requirements, number of publications and patents through the last twenty years, social acceptance through public media and others.Through the SWOT analysis, two technologies have emerged as having more potential than the others: DACCS and forestation and reforestation technologies.